Solicitors

The SRA could ask law firms to pay for their own research and writing skills tests when hiring trainees, instead of testing them in stage 1 of the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam, it has emerged.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority was wrong to sanction a senior finance partner at City giant Hogan Lovells for discriminating against his children’s pregnant nanny, a leading regulatory QC has said.

A solicitor and her practice manager husband jailed last year for legal aid fraud and facing a £7m civil claim from the Ministry of Justice have now been referred to a disciplinary tribunal.

A chatbot for people with learning disabilities, tools to help women facing domestic violence, and data-supported advice on employment disputes are among the Legal Access Challenge finalists.

A solicitor has been suspended for five years after becoming entangled in a financial scam and unwittingly using her professional status to rope in other victims, as well as losing money herself.

The marketing chief of a failed Manchester law firm who successfully appealed against an order banning him from working for the profession, has been cleared of all charges by a fresh tribunal.

A disciplinary tribunal has heavily criticised a Solicitors Regulation Authority investigation that was so “flawed” that its investigator’s evidence disintegrated under cross-examination.

Specialists have warned of problems for solicitors arising from the new Standards & Regulations being introduced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in November.

A survey of home-buyers has issued a “resounding indictment” of the lack of information provided by their lawyers and rising concern about developers forcing them to use recommended solicitors.

An experienced solicitor has been struck off for a litany of failures which showed “chaos and disorganisation” in his practice and included dishonestly under-valuing estate assets by nearly £50,000.